Tag Archive: newsletter

The Obligatory Europe QE Review

If Mario Draghi wanted to wow them, this wasn’t it. Maybe he couldn’t, handcuffed already by what seems to have been significant dissent in the ranks. And not just the Germans this time. Widespread dissatisfaction with what is now an idea whose time may have finally arrived.

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The remarkable rise of GDP per capita in Switzerland

In 1998, GDP per person in Switzerland was CHF 59,693. Recently published statistics put the figure at CHF 80,986 in 2018, a rise of 36%. When Swiss GDP per capita is expressed in globally comparable US dollar terms its rise is even greater. In US dollar terms Swiss GDP per capita grew from US$ 41,497 to US$ 82,839 between 1998 and 2018, a rise of 100%.

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FX Daily, September 12: Focus on the ECB, while the Dollar Slips below CNY7.09

Overview: Some gestures in the US-China trade spat have given the market the reason to do what it had been doing, and that is taking on more risk. Equities are higher in Asia Pacific and opened in Europe higher before slipping. The MSCI Asia Pacific and the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 are advancing for the fourth consecutive week.

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100-franc note enters circulation today

SNB banknote app with information on all new denominations. Issuance of the new 100-franc note presented a week ago begins today, 12 September. The complete version of the Swiss National Bank’s ‘Swiss Banknotes’ app is now also available. It has been updated to include the 100-franc note and features information on all six new denominations.

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Swiss Producer and Import Price Index in August 2019: -1.9 percent YoY, -0,2 percent MoM

12.09.2019 - The Producer and Import Price Index fell in August 2019 by 0.2% compared with the previous month, reaching 101.4 points (December 2015 = 100). The decline is due in particular to lower prices for rubber and plastic products as well as basic metals and semi-finished metal products. Compared with August 2018, the price level of the whole range of domestic and imported products fell by 1.9%.

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CHF is ‘not strong in real terms’ – no need for SNB intervention

A note from Standard Chartered on the Swiss National Bank and the Swiss franc. The SNB monetary policy meeting is next week, September 19.In brief, Stan Chart argue the franc is not strong in real termsadjusting EUR/CHF for inflation leaves CHF around 10% weaker than (non-adjusted) current spotno need for SNB to intervene to try to weaken ittherefore the SNB is not likely to cut rates at their meeting, nor intervene in forex markets in the near...

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Dollar (In) Demand

The last time was bad, no getting around it. From the end of 2014 until the first months of 2016, the Chinese economy was in a perilous state. Dramatic weakness had emerged which had seemed impossible to reconcile with conventions about the country. Committed to growth over everything, and I mean everything, China was the one country the world thought it could count on for being immune to the widespread economic sickness.

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FX Daily, September 11: Dollar is Firm as ECB is Awaited

Overview: Global equities are extending their recent gains while bonds remain on the defensive.  The dollar is firm.  There is a degree of optimism that is prevailing. There are some more overtures in terms of US-Chinese trade. In Hong Kong, developers and banks led an equity rally on ideas that the political tensions may ease. South Korea reported better trade data for the first ten days of September.

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Negativzinsen – Resultat des chaotischen SNB-Konzepts

Nach der Freigabe der Wechselkurse zu Beginn der 1970er Jahre bestand das geldpolitische Konzept der SNB in sogenannten „Geldmengenzielen“. Es wurde für das kommende Jahr ein Geldmengenziel angestrebt in der Meinung, so die Inflation unter Kontrolle zu halten. Trotzdem: Die Inflation hüpfte damals aufgrund der Angebotsschocks nach Belieben rauf und runter und die SNB schaute konsterniert zu.

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Oil prices and the global economy

Low oil prices are good news for disposable income. But they also reflect the risk of oversupply in a world where growth indicators continue to point down.Events since Trump first threatened increased tariffs in 2017 provide a textbook example of how tariffs are transmitted through the global economy. First, the uncertainty they create hurts sentiment.

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A Bigger Boat

For every action there is a reaction. Not only is that Sir Isaac Newton’s third law, it’s also a statement about human nature. Unlike physics where causes and effects are near simultaneous, there is a time component to how we interact. In official capacities, even more so.

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EUR/CHF technical analysis: Break out or fake out?

The cross needs to hold above the 1.0970s and beyond the 25th July swing lows. To the downside, a break back below the prior descending resistance will spell bad news for the bulls. EUR/CHF has been running higher of late, despite the onset of the European Central Bank - a possible buy the rumour sell the fact scenario as the less committed euro shorts are squeezed.

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Swiss National Bank – Between a rock and a hard place

We expect the Swiss National Bank to stay on hold at its next policy meeting, but a lot will depend on ECB and Fed meetings.Uncertainties and global slowdown are weighing on business investment in Switzerland, while household consumption growth has been slowing. Swiss GDP rose by 0.3% q-o-q in Q2 (down from 0.4% in Q1), mainly due to spending in healthcare, housing and energy.

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FX Daily, September 10: Turn Around Tuesday

Overview: The momentum from the end of last week carried into yesterday's activity, but the momentum began fading.  Today, equities were mixed in Asia Pacific and weaker in Europe. The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 reversed lower yesterday and is slipped further today.  The S&P 500 may gap lower at the open.

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How Is Negative Interest Possible? Report 8 Sep

Germany has recently joined Switzerland in the dubious All Negative Club. The interest rate on every government bond, from short to 30 years, is now negative. Many would say “congratulations”, in the belief that this proves their credit risk is … well … umm … negative(?) And anyways, it will let them borrow more to spend on consumption which will stimulate … umm… well… all of the wasteful consumption for which governments are rightly...

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Is The Negativity Overdone?

Give stimulus a chance, that’s the theme being set up for this week. After relentless buying across global bond markets distorting curves, upsetting politicians and the public alike, central bankers have responded en masse. There were more rate cuts around the world in August than there had been at any point since 2009.

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FX Daily, September 9: Market Sentiment Still Constructive

Overview: The improvement of investor sentiment seen last week is carrying over into the start of the new weeks. Global equities are firm as are benchmark yields. Asia Pacific equities advanced, except in Hong Kong, where Chief Executive Lam's promise to formally withdraw the controversial extradition bill failed to deter protests.

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FX Weekly Preview: Gaming the ECB and Putting the Cart Before Horse in the Brexit Drama

The step away from the edge of the abyss may have stirred the animal spirits, but it remains precarious at best. The formal withdrawal of the extradition bill in Hong Kong is too late and too little at this juncture. The ambitions of the protests have evolved well beyond that.

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EM Preview for the Week Ahead

Despite some positive developments last week, we think the three key issues for risk assets have not been resolved yet.  Hong Kong protests continue, while reports suggest the US and China remain far apart.  Even Brexit has likely been given only a three month reprieve.  We remain negative on EM until these key issues have been ultimately resolved.

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SNB Jordan: Cannot say how long negative interest rates will last

SNBs Jordan on the wiresThe Swiss national banks Jordan is on the wires saying:He cannot say how long negative interest rates will lastNegative rates are necessary for nowInterest rate spreads like important role for exchange ratesThe USDCHF is trading higher today. It currently trades at 0.9861.

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